Milling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10195707-B2
Application number	US-201514940807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2015
Priority date	Nov 14, 2014
Publication date	Feb 5, 2019
Grant date	Feb 5, 2019

Abstract

In one example, a method including controlling milling of a component via a milling system, the milling system including a spindle, a tool holder coupled to the spindle, the tool holder configured to receive a milling tool; and the milling tool configured to remove at least a portion of the component via milling while the milling tool is rotated by the spindle and tool holder, wherein the milling system is configured to conduct an electrical signal between the milling tool and component during milling of the component when the milling tool is not broken; monitoring the electrical signal conducted between the milling tool and component; and determining whether the milling tool is broken based on the monitored electrical signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
controlling milling of a component via a milling system, the milling system including:
a spindle;
a tool holder coupled to the spindle, the tool holder configured to receive a milling tool; and
the milling tool configured to remove at least a portion of the component via milling while the milling tool is rotated by the spindle and tool holder, wherein the milling system is configured to conduct an electrical signal between the milling tool and component during milling of the component when the milling tool is not broken;

monitoring the electrical signal conducted between the milling tool and component; and
determining whether the milling tool is broken based on a detected voltage of the monitored electrical signal, wherein determining whether the milling tool is broken based on the detected voltage of the monitored electrical signal comprises:
determining the milling tool is not broken when substantially no voltage is detected; and
determining the milling tool is broken when a voltage is detected,

wherein at least one of the controlling, monitoring, or determining is performed via at least one processor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the electrical signal conducted between the milling tool and component comprises monitoring the electrical signal conducted between the milling tool and component during milling of the component.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising suspending the milling of the component based on the determination that the milling tool is broken.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the milling system includes an electrically conductive slip ring proximate the spindle with a gap between the spindle and slip ring, wherein the electrical signal is conducted between the slip ring and spindle across the gap.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein an electrically conductive coolant cools the milling tool during the milling of the component.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the slip ring is grounded.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the spindle, the component, or the slip ring is grounded.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spindle is not grounded.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein an electrically non-conductive coolant cools the milling tool during the milling of the component, and wherein the spindle and the component are ungrounded.

10. An automated milling system comprising:
a spindle;
a tool holder coupled to the spindle, the tool holder configured to receive a milling tool;
the milling tool configured to remove at least a portion of the component via milling while the milling tool is rotated by the spindle and tool holder, wherein the milling system is configured to conduct an electrical signal between the milling tool and component during milling of the component when the milling tool is not broken; and
a processor configured to monitor an electrical signal conducted between the milling tool and component, and determine whether the milling tool is broken based on a detected voltage of the monitored electrical signal, wherein the processor determines that the milling tool is not broken when no voltage is detected and the processor determines that the milling tool is broken when a voltage is detected.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to monitor the electrical signal conducted between the milling tool and component during milling of the component.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to suspend the milling of the component based on the determination that the milling tool is broken.

13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising an electrically conductive slip ring proximate the spindle with a gap between the spindle and slip ring, wherein the gap is configured such that the electrical signal is conducted between the slip ring and spindle across the gap.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the system is configured such that a conductive coolant cools the milling tool during the milling of the component.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the spindle, the component, or the slip ring is grounded.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the slip ring is grounded.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the spindle is not grounded.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the system is configured such that a non-conductive coolant cools the milling tool during the milling of the component, and wherein the spindle and the component are ungrounded.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions that cause one or more processors to:
control milling of a component via a milling system, the milling system including:
a spindle;
tool holder coupled to the spindle, the tool holder configured to receive a milling tool; and
the milling tool configured to remove at least a portion of the component via milling while the milling tool is rotated by the spindle and tool holder, wherein the milling system is configured to conduct an electrical signal between the milling tool and component during milling of the component when the milling tool is not broken;

monitor the electrical signal conducted between the milling tool and the component; and
determine whether the milling tool is broken based on a detected voltage of the monitored electrical signal, wherein the milling tool is determined to be not broken when substantially no voltage is detected and the milling tool is determined to be broken when a voltage is detected.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Corp

Inventors

• Rhodes Jeffrey F
• Crook Bruce Allan

Classifications

• B23Q11/1038

  using cutting liquids with special characteristics, e.g. flow rate, quality · CPC title

• G01N27/20

  Investigating the presence of flaws · CPC title

• B23Q17/0957 Primary

  Detection of tool breakage (detecting failure of drills B23B49/001) · CPC title

• B23Q17/2241

  Detection of contact between tool and workpiece · CPC title